(1 minute read)
As we focus on the theme of ‘People Management’ for the month of April, it’s imperative that we address the importance of Psychological Safety in the workplace, and how we can minimise the emergence or impact of Psychosocial Hazards.
Psychological Safety is an individual’s belief that they won’t be adversely impacted (ridiculed, punished, embarrassed, rejected, or humiliated) for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes.
As of April 1, 2023, Australian Work Health and Safety laws include regulations on managing Psychosocial Risks at work. This means that organisations are now legally obligated to manage the risk of psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Psychosocial Hazards are ‘aspects of work that have the potential to cause psychological or physical harm.’
While all workplaces will vary in the potential hazards that may be present, the team at Safe Work Australia has included the following:
- Excessive job demands
- Low job control
- Poor support
- Lack of role clarity
- Remote of isolated work
- Violence or aggression
- Bullying
- Harassment
- Conflict or poor workplace interactions
Leaders and managers can minimise the likelihood of any of these psychosocial hazards in their teams or workplaces, by identifying the most prominent (likely) and working collaboratively to negate it/them wherever and whenever possible.
“It is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent”.
Ezra Taft Benson